A microscopic parasite has quietly moved through the food supply, turning an ordinary fast food meal into a public health crisis spanning five Midwestern states. Shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations — grown in Mexico and distributed by Taylor Farms — has been linked to what may be the largest cyclospora outbreak in American history, with nearly 1,644 confirmed or suspected cases and 141 hospitalizations. The event is a reminder that the distance between a farm and a dinner table is rarely as simple as it appears, and that the invisible world of pathogens does not respect the
Taco Bell lettuce linked to cyclospora outbreak across five Midwest states
At least 1,644 confirmed or suspected cases of cyclosporiasis across five states with 141 hospitalizations; symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, cramping, and bloating lasting weeks.